The Washington Redskins were streaking toward the playoffs
before their second meeting with the New York Giants a year ago. That's not the
case this season. The Redskins enter on a three-game skid and have a minute
hope of making the playoffs.

Grant Paulsen, the Redskins beat reporter for 106.7 The Fan
(WJFK), sat down with NJ.com to talk about the Redskins ahead of Sunday night's
contest against the Giants. He can be followed on Twitter @granthpaulsen.

NJ.com: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is in the fourth year of
a five-year deal. What do you think the chances are he'll be back next
season?

Paulsen: "I think the final five games will determine his fate. A
month ago, I said I'd be surprised if they didn't bring him to be back. Their
last two losses, and more specifically the way they've played, are the kinds of
games that can get a coach fired. They need to look much better -- regardless
of the results -- and play much better the last five games. As far as the big
picture, he inherited a really bad situation. While I agree with him when he
says some of the non-record metrics would indicate that they're much closer to
being an annual contender than this organization was before he got here, it is
still Year 4 and they are staring at three really bad seasons with one division
championship in their four years."

NJ.com: The perception of Robert Griffin III nationally
seems to have been taking a hit with the questions about his leadership and
claims he's asked coaches not to show his miscues in film review seasons.
(Griffin, his teammates and 'Skins coaches have denied those reports.) How is
Griffin viewed around here?

Paulsen: "When the team was wining and he was playing well, all
attention was really positive. This year has been the antithesis of that.
They're losing. He's struggled personally. All of the questions one year ago
about how great he was are now about, 'Why isn't he playing like that?' Any a
23-year-old and any second-year quarterback would have
trouble going through that for the first time. He's never gone through failures
like this. As far as fans go, the fan base is still adamantly behind him and
extremely supportive of him. I think by and large they understand that he's in
Year 2 in the NFL and he needs to continue to transition into more of a
pocket-passing, throw-first quarterback. That's not going to be an easily or
seamless transition. The last thing I'd say about that is not having the
offseason (due to reconstructive knee surgery), crippled his chances to have a
strong season as a passer. Normally between Year 1 to Year 2, you make so many
strides from a technique and mechanical standpoint. You really hone your craft
a lot. He didn't get to do that. From a passer, he isn't what he was a year
ago. That doesn't mean he's not healthy. He's 100 percent healthy. He just
needs that time to progress in the same way other guys have from Year 1 to Year
2."

NJ.com: The Redskins'
name continues to be an issue with Native American tribes and others pushing
for a change to a more politically correct name. Do you ever see owner Dan
Snyder agreeing to alter the team's moniker?

Paulsen: "I think at some point in the future, it could
change, but I think that would be the distant future. I would be shocked if
anything happens over the next several years. Dan Snyder doesn't want to
change the name. He doesn't think he should change the name. He'll fight this
as much as he can for as long as he can."

NJ.com: The Redskins' troubles have largely been laid at the
feet of Griffin. What are the other factors that separate this squad from last
year's NFC East championship team?

Paulsen: Turnovers. Last year, the Redskins protected the
ball at an elite level. They said a franchise record for the fewest turnovers
and had one of the fewest turnover totals in league history. Because of that, they
didn't beat themselves. Even though they didn't have necessarily the same
talent of the teams they played every weekend, you'd have to play a really good
game to beat them. Griffin, for example, had five interceptions last year. He's
already had twice that many this year. You look at the lost fumbles.
Statistically, last year was oddity. They fumbled a lot, but didn't lose a lot
of them. It was a lucky metric that doesn't repeat itself. Another area where
they have been terrible is special teams. Statistically, they weren't great
last year, but they didn't have the cripplingly awful plays like they've had
this season. There was a stretch of
seven games where they had brutal special teams play that was very costly. They
had a punt block in Oakland that went for a touchdown. They've had two field
goals blocked. They've had untimely shanked punts. They have a hard time
covering both kicks and punts. They haven't gotten anything in the return game.
Getting back to the 20-yard line is an accomplishment. When you look at every
statistic on special teams they're either last or nearly last in the league.
People seem to dismiss that, but you can't. That's one third of your
operation."

NJ.com: What kind of game do you expect to see on Sunday?
Prediction?

Paulsen: "It will be a pretty close game. You have two teams
with flaws. Washington over last two seasons has done a really good job scheming
Eli Manning and the passing game. They seem to have a plan that works against
him as far as dropping defenders in into zone. I expect the Redskins to run the
ball. Alfred Morris is a bonafide star. They'll run the ball. The question for
me is how well do they throw it? Can they make some plays vertically in the
passing game? Can they get play action working in the way they haven't in the
last couple weeks? I anticipate a sloppy, close game. The Giants win, 20-17."